The victim, an 82-year-old man, was in Kendrick Road on Tuesday afternoon when he was approached by a woman who asked him for help.

She convinced the victim to take her back to his house where she then got him to give her £50 which she said she needed for a train fare as she had no money.

The woman is white, aged between 35 and 45 years old, 5ft 7 or 8ins, and she had a slim build. She was wearing a thin faux leather jacket, light blue jeans, grey plimsolls and was carrying a dark-coloured handbag and a broken umbrella.

Investigating officer PC Aidan Williams from Reading police station, said: “There is a school very close to the offence location and this occurred at the end of the school day so there would have been a lot of people out in the street, not necessarily from the area.

“It is highly likely that someone else was approached by the offender before they approached victim.

“I would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about this incident. Please contact me via the 101 number.”